What is a Lutheran?

What is a Lutheran? What do Lutherans Believe? Our congregation accepts and preaches the Word of God alone! The Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century are part of our Christian heritage. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone (see below for more). Lutherans are Christians who believe that all Christian teachings should come from God’s Word, the Bible. We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word. This means that everything the Bible teaches is correct and true. We believe that it is only through the Bible that we can know the one true God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – and His will for our lives.Our congregation accepts and preaches the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone. Lutherans are Christians who believe that all Christian teachings should come from God’s Word, the Bible. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. This means that everything the Bible teaches is correct and true. We believe that it is only through the Bible that we can know the one true God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – and His will for our lives.

Lutherans believe in God’s grace. All people are sinners and would perish eternally without God’s help. The good news is that God has provided all of this help as a free gift. God’s saving grace is His undeserved love for all people through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. God loves all people, of every nation and race equally. It is God the Father’s desire for all people to hear His Word, to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, as their only Savior, and therefore to have eternal life. Jesus lived a holy life in our place and died on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins. This teaching of salvation is the central truth of the Bible.

8 God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

Lutherans believe that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for eternal salvation. This faith in Jesus, who is both God and man, our Savior, comes only as the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word and Baptism in a person’s heart. At Faith Lutheran Church, we join Paul in this confidence:

Lutherans believe in Faith alone. The Bible teaches that we are forgiven and accepted by God when we place our trust in Jesus and believe that His death and resurrection guarantee forgiveness. We receive these and many more blessings by faith. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:10

Lutherans believe in Faith alone. The Bible teaches that we are forgiven and accepted by God when we place our trust in Jesus and believe that His death and resurrection guarantee forgiveness. We receive these and many more blessings by faith. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:10

Lutheran’s believe in God’s Word. We believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible Word, where He reveals salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

Want to know more? If you’d like to read more about what the Bible teaches, click on “What We Believe”.

Why we call ourselves Lutheran? In spite of how the name Lutheran may sound, we are followers of Jesus Christ, not Martin Luther. We call ourselves Lutherans because, like Luther, we believe that the center of the Christian message is the cross of Jesus Christ. Like Luther, we believe that the Bible is not a book of morals, but a song of God’s redemptive love. We believe that every person, no matter their sins and failures, can be redeemed and saved by Jesus Christ! Like Luther, we believe that God says what He means and means what He says. If you happen to share these beliefs, then it looks like you may be a Lutheran too.

Part of the Lutheran congregations in mission for Christ Our church is a part of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). We believe the Bible is the Word of God and that when God speaks, we should listen. Period. You can learn more about the LCMC here.